Light shows, traditional performances, intangible cultural experience at historical sites in Suzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province are drawing crowds of enthusiastic visitors, heating up the local nighttime tourist consumption.
In the Humble Administrator's Garden, a UNESCO world heritage site embodying the essence of ancient Chinese garden design, an immersive show of lighting and sound transforms the classical landscape into an interactive cultural space.
In one pavilion, projected lighting creates a visual effect of a rising moon and flowing water on a static landscape painting on the wall. In another, projected banana leaves intertwine with real plants as simulated rain sounds fill the space, creating a poetic atmosphere.
"I think it's a little hot during the day, but at nighttime the lighting is very nice. So we just wanted to see the night show. I think just seeing the reflection, the beauty, nature," said David, a tourist from Canada.
"I like seeing the reflection in the water. It's really pretty," said Anna, another Canadian tourist.
In addition to light shows, Chinese opera performances grace the garden's architectures and landscapes. Performers sing their way from the rock garden to painted boats, using pavilions as natural stages to vividly present Kunqu Opera, an elegant fusion of poetry, music, intricate costumes, and graceful performance with hundreds of years of history.
The immersive nighttime experience at the garden has gained traction among visitors, with the number of visitors this summer expected to increase by about 10 percent year on year.
At Tiger Hill, an iconic cultural and natural site with over 2,500 years of history, performers dressed in traditional Chinese clothing carry colorful lanterns printed with traditional patterns, moving through the garden's foliage and performing as they go. Notably, visitors can also join in at any time, taking a lantern with them to experience the charm of intangible cultural heritage up close.
After enjoying the interactive performances, visitors can explore the distinctive bazaar within the scenic area, which recreates traditional Suzhou water-town life where people lived along the river and sold goods from boats. The lively street scene of the past has been transformed into an immersive consumption experience where visitors can tour, enjoy, and shop.
Night tours at Suzhou's historic sites attract tourists with fresh experiences, scenic beauty
